Warwick International Women’s Day Breakfast 2017
On International Women’s Day, UN Women called upon us to Step It Up for Gender Equality.
Wednesday, 8th March, Zonta Club of Warwick celebrated International Women’s Day with 150 guests for breakfast at the Warwick RSL Services and Memorial Club. Students from Warwick State High School, Scots PGC College, Assumption College and the Warwick West State School joined women from business and professions to acknowledge and celebrate women’s strengths, to be inspired and to be challenged to make a positive difference in our community, and to enjoy a morning of fellowship.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2017, focused on “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030”.
In 2015, world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, placing gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These goals include ending poverty, promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, reducing inequalities within and between countries, and achieving gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
Key to attaining these goals will be unlocking the full potential of women in the world of work, through:
- bridging the gender pay gap, which stands at 24 per cent globally;
- recognising women’s unpaid care and domestic work and addressing the gender deficit in care work;
- addressing the gender gaps in leadership;
- ensuring gender-responsive economic policies for job creation, poverty reduction and sustainable, inclusive growth;
- promoting women’s access to innovative technologies and practices;
- protecting women from violence in the work place.
We were honoured to have Cr Tracy Dobie, as our guest speaker. She is a woman bold for change, for being involved, and for leading the way.
Tracy was elected as the Mayor of the Southern Downs Regional Council in March 2016. Tracy was born and grew up in Warwick, leaving in 1977 to join the Australian Army, and returning in 2014.
Tracy spoke about the importance of women being able to choose, and gave many examples of how she has achieved her potential, and been able to excel in her career and interests, with no restriction based on her gender. We were inspired by her account of the challenges she has faced in her career – initially in the Army (Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps and later the Australian Intelligence Corps) and when working as a management consultant, and also in competitive running.
At our International Women’s Day breakfast, we presented our Club’s Young Women in Public Affairs Award to Christabel Kelly.
Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Award Program encourages more young women to participate in public affairs by recognising a commitment to the volunteer sector, evidence of volunteer leadership achievements, and a dedication to empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.
Christabel was recognised for her demonstrated leadership skills within her school and her developing commitment to community service. Examples of her leadership include being a peer mentor of students transitioning into Grade 7, being a Student Council Representative for 4 years, and being named Awardee of Merit in Young Women in Business Awards. Her volunteer community service is broad, through Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Zonta Birthing Kit Assembly Days, Relay for Life, working with Warwick Sunrise Rotary Club, and Young Scientists Australia.
Many guest received prizes, which included a Fruit Basket donated by Percy Puglisi from Percy’s Fruit Market in Wood Street, voucher donated by Robyn Fraser from Classic Dimensions, and a voucher donated by Chris Costello from Wot’s Knots, and other prizes donated by Zonta members.
Feedback from those who attended has been very positive, and all have commented on the inspiring address by Cr Dobie. We hope that all who attended have been able to spread the message to work towards stepping it up for gender equality, to achieve a 50-50 status by 2030.
